Per this topic (http://lumberjocks.com/topics/25933) started yesterday, i’m curious what everyone thinks if the feasibility of a Festool plunge cut saw basically replacing a table saw? I’m not planning to get rid of the TS, but I’m thinking maybe I could do most of what I need to with the plunge cut saw instead of a TS?

I have both and I do use the TS55 (Festool Circular) alot. As for it being a replacement for the TS…you might…but there are things you can do with a TS you would have to do alot of work to accomplish on the TS55 – like cutting small pieces…or cutting mitres on smaller pieces.

I mostly use my TS55 for breaking down panels….but I have used it several times for dado, rabbett and slot cutting…..This I did on larger cuts….I still go to the TS and my sliding cross cut jig with smaller cross cuts, dado’s etc. I suppose you could devise a jig to do that on the TS55….but I have not had to do this as having a TS makes this unnecessary.

I just had this same discussion on another forum, and while the TS will excell and cutting down large sheet goods, it simply can’t replace all the things a table saw can do. For instance, cutting 6/4 hard maple :)

I opted to buy a good clamping guide system, a good circular saw with good blades, and then pocketed $300 towards my table saw upgrade.

Should I purchase a VW bug for lumber pick up and cabinet delivery or a Ford e250 van? After all, it is theoretically possible to use a VW bug to pick up lumber and deliver cabinets and it is German made!

It depends on your style of work. The Festool system can be adequatelyadapted as a panel saw for breaking up sheet goods. In pro use, the aluminum parts are subject to wearing and damage however.

The Festool excels as a jobsite panel saw. It is neither as fast or asaccurate as a real panel saw set up for cabinet making, but it doesvery well on chip-prone materials, better than most non high-endpanel saws.

If you try to substitute a tracksaw for a table or band saw in the regulardimensioning of solid wood stock I think you’ll be frustrated.

You can certainly eliminate the table saw from your working methods ifyou choose to do so. If working with sheet goods you’ll want a circularsaw of some sort for cutting and squaring panels.

For most solid wood work, the band saw is a good substitute for mostoperations the table saw can do. Of course you’ll need a jointer tooif ripping on the bandsaw.

The table saw is convenient for smaller crosscuts but a miter saw worksas well in many situations. I have a small ultra-precise table saw I use for joinery – it was manufactured for the printing industry and isdead square.

I was about to type in my usual “the only time I miss a tablesaw is when I’m doing rips, and for that I built a ripping jig for the Festool saw” when I realized “Wait, that’s my usual, which means I’m repeating myself which means I’m gonna be booooring soon.” So, three places I’ve weighed in on the discussion before:

I think some of it may be picking and choosing what sorts of cuts you want to do. There are furniture makers who do it all by hand. There are people who think that the only power saw you need in your shop is a band saw. My wife thinks I need the smaller SawStop, and I’ve been resisting that so far…

Congrats on a New Cool ToolLooks like for some things ,it would actually be better than a TS. Festool makes quality stuffOne tool can’t do it all I have my Table S ,Sliding Chop,and Panel saw for sheet goodsPanel stock is cut slightly over sized on panel saw ,then goes to table saw

The biggest advantage about the Festool’s tools are it mobile capabilities, going from job to job and being able to perform most task that a T.S. can do. Having a stationary T.S. will always win out in my book especially if I’m working in the shop hands down. So its a win win controversy if you could have the combo or just one component.

I started with a TS55 hoping I wouldn’t have to buy a table saw. While the track saw excels at some things, breaking down sheet goods and cutting angles, it was tough for me to get parallel cuts. And there is no way to use a dado blade with it. Now wouldn’t that be something a track saw with a dado blade.

guys, when we limit our imagination to what a tool can do instead of what we can do with a tool…the tablesaw wins every time. 60+ years of tablesaw thinking ( pushing woods into spinning blades ,against fences…working against all forces ) is very hard to start thinking new ways.I know that some may take my post the wrong way but I think, sorry,
I know that we can do better than forcing ourselfs against fences and limits.

I hope you will see this video with an open mind and think about positive energy and forces instead of bindings, fences, kickbacks and braking down large panels with one tool to take it to the next for more
of the same. In NJ USA space is very expensive and an ez solution was badly needed.Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIuvK3ZHokI

I did end up getting the festool TS75 and the MFT3. I know this won’t completely replace the table saw, but I do enjoy the challenge of finding a new way to think about making cuts. Since I’m just a hobbyist and not a production shop, speed isn’t really a concern of mine. So if it takes me a little longer to find a new way to set up a cut, or I need to make a jig to make a cut that a table saw can normally make, I’m ok with that. So far it’s only been a week, but it’s a lot of fun so far, which is the most important part right?

pete. one is an edge guide and the other is a sliding tracksaw/edgeguide with 25” width capacity and as the edge guide offers unlimited ripping velocity.

one can be taken apart and used for 36” cross cuts and the other not designed for that.many typical problems was taken into consideration when designing the monster ez edge guide that we call it the Ripsizer. no comparison here.

the typical problems with edge guides are very well known and you have no control at the entry and exit of your cut…unless you take your time and everything is just perfect? Even then, we have to deal with many other problems and the capacity is the biggest one.

enjoy your tracksaw system and learn more about the Dead Wood Concept that is the GUIDE for all the tools that we invent/design/make and use.think of the tracksaw as a beam saw ( upside down ?) and there is no limits to what you can do with a simple straight edge and an antichip base on your circular saw.

thanksdinoeurekazone inc.I put the name of my company so you know that this is not an attempt to troll this forum.Only to educate my fellow woodworkers.

deke – EXACTLY my thoughts after a week with it and using it for what amounts to “heavy” use for me. I simply don’t feel confident making accurate cuts repetitively, and I think that will cause big issues down the road. I’m planning on making a return and doing some deeper research on a table saw that will work for my current electric setup. Unfortunately I think I’ll have a battle on my hands with the retailer and their “restocking fee” for my Festool return.

guys, there is no restocking fees from festool as far as I know.If the dealer is trying to collect few dollars, call the company.I bought the mft-3 and the large festool router. The mft-3 is getting a facelift with the b-300 and the top is converted into an open and adjustable top like the ez-one.The idea is to save the DWC. dont give up on any tracksaw.doing that is going to push woodworking back to fences and kickbacks.Visit the tracksaw forum and see what others did with their festool setups.Simple answers solve complicated problems.

My Festool router is going to be the head of a bridgeport mill and with a mach-3 control is going to be the first cnc of its kind. What I like about the festool router is the drop dust shield.Imagine a milling machine with nice dust collection and all the features of the festool router?

Keep the best from any tool and build from there. The Devil is on the final details and not your decision to try a new way.few simple braces and a bridge on the mft-3 and you never go back.2 digital limit stops and 4 solid squaring blocks and your cuts can be within 0.0001” every time.What can go wrong with a perfectly square adjustable table with solid rock stops and a bridge that acts like a clamp?

visit the tracksaw forum and you will receive real help from many festool users and some ez guys.enjoy and dont go back to old ways that they force us to close the woodshops at our schools.

Dino, From the video in your link. It sure seems that the guy’s tape measure is way off. He says “perfect three and a half” when it clearly is way over that. Maybe 3 5/8” from the camera’s vantage point. Interesting product nonetheless. Maybe useful on a job site, but not in the shop IMO.